Oxygenated group and structural defect enriched carbon nanotubes for immobilizing gold nanoparticles

Surface functionalized and defect enriched carbon nanotubes (oCNTs) by green ozone/H2O treatment can efficiently anchor gold nanoparticles. This Au/oCNT could be stabilized and well dispersed after thermal treatment and showed robust catalytic activity (20.6mmol g(cat) (-1) h(-1)) for the oxidative self-coupling of benzylamine to imine in solvent free conditions.